The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas is making effective use of a used 2003 electric Crown RC 3020-35 counterbalance forklift at its distribution centre in Norfork.

"Previously, we did not have a forklift," says Linda Finley, executive director. "We were not able to use racking without a forklift, and we operate out of an old 1960s school building with low ceilings."

The Hugg & Hall Equipment Co branch in Tontitown, Arkansas in the Springdale market sold the 3,500 lb. (1,575 kg) capacity forklift, a battery charger and some body work for less than USD10,000. Jeff Larson in Tontitown and Jason Grady in Hugg & Hall's Little Rock facility handled the arrangements.

"They worked with us nicely at Hugg & Hall," Finley reports.

The State of Arkansas general improvement fund granted USD90,000 to the food bank for building, renovations and modifications, dock-door work including a leveler, installation of a racking system, electrical heating/ventilating upgrades, energy-efficient lighting and the forklift. Seven current and former state legislators requested the fund to issue the grant.

The food bank began using the forklift in mid-2010, completed the physical improvements in April and held an open house on 19 May.

The food bank has five full-time employees and three part-timers, serves a nine-county region near the state's northern border and projects 2011 distribution of l.7 million lb. (765,000 kg) of food versus last year's 1.4 million lb. (630,000 kg).

Little Rock-based forklift dealer Hugg & Hall has about 320 employees and 16 locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Hugg & Hall acquired Arkla Taylor Inc of Ruston, Louisiana on 13 May (Forkliftaction.com News #515).